How Do You Get a Bad Smell Out of Shoes?

Overuse, sweat, skin shedding, dirt, bacteria, fungus, and lack of aeration can all contribute to stinky shoes.

How do you get a bad smell out of shoes?

The more we wear our favorite pair of shoes, the more we may notice that they are beginning to smell. Overuse, sweat, skin shedding, dirt, bacteria, fungus, and lack of aeration can all contribute to stinky shoes.

Below are a few ways to remove the bad smell out of the shoes:

Simple methods:

• One of the best ways to remove smells from shoes is to revitalize them with a much more pleasant smell. Leave a fresh lemon or lime peel in your shoes overnight or squirt a few drops of any essential oil such as lavender into the soles of your shoes and allow the shoes to dry. Both remedies will help to eliminate odors.
• If your shoes are washable, bath them. You can get leather and fabric cleaner to clean up shoes that are not washer friendly, or if they’re machine safe, throw them into the washing machine or submerge and hand wash them in a detergent bath. Place your shoes in the sun or near a heater and allow them to dry out. This will help to prevent the bacterial growth that causes odor. Ensure they are completely dry before reassembling the shoes and wearing them again.
• Pop your smelly shoes in a large plastic sandwich bag and leave them in the freezer overnight. Take them out of the freezer the next day and allow them to dry naturally. The extremely cold temperature will kill the bacteria and make your shoes less stinky.

Ingredients methods:

• Sprinkle some baby powder on your feet or socks. If your feet start to sweat during the day, reapply the baby powder to keep your feet dry. Baby powder may help keep your feet and shoes dry, reducing the risk of bacteria growing on your feet and shoes. Baby powder can help to neutralize odors and deodorize your shoes.
• Teabags may fight the bad odor. Black tea contains tannins, which are extremely useful in killing the bacteria found inside shoes. Place a couple of tea bags in a pot of boiling water and let steep for several minutes. Remove the bags and let them cool for about 5 minutes. Place the cooled tea bags on your shoes and let them sit for nearly an hour. Remove the tea bags and wipe off the excess liquid.
• Tea tree oil is a wonderful product to reduce smelly shoes. A sprinkle of a few drops of tea tree oil through the shoe may reduce and prevent any odor. If you are tempted to apply tea tree oil directly to the skin, please make sure it is heavily diluted with other carrier oils, such as coconut oil.
• Cedarwood has natural antifungal properties making it a great deodorizer. Place the cedarwood insoles inside your shoes to help them stay smelling fresh for longer.
• A specially formulated odor remover spray can be an amazingly effective way to get rid of smells in shoes. Most sprays like this will contain bacteria and/or enzymes that eat away the things that cause the bad smell and provide a quick fix.
• A great natural deodorizer is a baking soda. This can help to absorb bad smells and leave your shoes much fresher. Sprinkle a small amount of baking soda inside your shoes and leave it overnight. Be sure to dust out the baking soda before wearing your shoes again. Put a mixture of baking soda, baking powder, and cornstarch in a pair of cotton socks and stick in the shoes overnight alternatively.
• White vinegar can also be used to neutralize odors and remove the bacteria found in shoes. You should use a vinegar and water solution to battle the odor. In a spray bottle, mix one cup of vinegar and one cup of water. Spray the solution inside your shoes and allow them to dry. The vinegar will eliminate the odor and keep your shoes smell fresh for hours.
• Add some cloves to your stinky shoes. Tie a handful of cloves in a handkerchief and place them in each shoe. Let them sit for a few hours. For exceptionally bad-smelling footwear, leave the cloves longer or until the smell is gone.
• Place a soap bar inside your shoes overnight. The porous nature of soap will help eliminate the odor.

Preventive methods:

• The core reason for smelling shoes comes from your feet's perspiration. As your feet sweat and the moisture seeps in the boot’s material, bacteria and fungi thrive in warm, humid conditions. By washing your feet often with antibacterial soap, you will kill bacteria and the smell that comes with it.
• Changing your socks often for a fresh pair will reduce the buildup of smelly bacteria. When you choose your work socks, avoid cotton if you can because it absorbs moisture (including sweat) rather than wicking it away from your skin. This makes them smell more quickly and will leave your feet damp and uncomfortable. Woolen or bamboo socks are best for wicking moisture.